Part I - What is stopping Arsenal from winning?

Guys this could be a blog with lot of things to debate on. To start with what is that our team lacks now? We often tend to get carried away with the goals we score and forget that there is something that is standing strong between Arsenal and the silverware. This is not just onething but quite a few. I would be mean if I don't admit that Arsene Wenger is the best person Arsenal can get with their limited spending policy and hefty loans.

1. Wing Backs
Arsenal often boasts of couple of the most terrific wing backs in the football now. But think about it guys. Who Sagna or Clichy or both? Its funny to even think of. Be frank with yourself and ask yourself how many times you have seen Sagna curling in a wonderful cross? I haven't seen many in all these years! Guys believe the fact you can't run away from it..its just not happening. Sagna is good at getting back to the Right Back role and tackling the ball from the opponents boots. He will never be considered as a threat going forward. Now let's get to the much talked about and respected Clichy...what's there in him that makes us love him? Its nothing but his speed. He is quick at his feet and can catch up with the best forwards in the world. Is he good at attacking and taking over the role of a perfect wing back. He is kind of ok? Yeah true...Kind off..He is not good at doing that. He is more comfortable in winning balls and running with the ball. Observe yourself before you consider my words. We have two prodigy's in bench named Traore and Gibbs. To be fair to them both are more attacking than Clichy but due to lack of experience they are terrible defensively. Both of them needs matches to grow and Arsene needs to decide whether to loan them off or give them more matches. My pick would be Traore for the future and Gibbs would be better off being a left midfielder.

2. Defensive Midfielder/Snatchers
Defensive Midfielders are often seen and respected as the people who control the game. They are always in a commanding position since they often get more possession compared other players if he is good at his job. If you take a look at the Arsenal teams which had been widely respected and feared in recent past you would know what was in there. People feared Henry or Bergkamp, but why? There was always a Viera, Ray Parlour, Edu, Gilberto Silva, Flamini and few others to snatch the ball from the opposition. This is the difference. Arsenal's backbone had been that defensive midfield which was damaged and destroyed by the greedy departure of few players. So what's the remedy? We can see a rejuvenated Alex Song doing well in that position. Cutting off passes, making that excellent long and short passes to control the game. But how often does he get forward? With Song eventhough he is good at his new role he is bad at going forward like all the greats before him. This could be later a disadvantage to us. I don't expect Song to have long runs with the ball or dribble past people but atleast he should keep a higher position. A territory somewhere in the center of the pitch. Denilson cannot be seen as a defensive midfielder since he tends to get forward too often more than what I mentioned above. Diaby is another option Wenger has who can control the game. But he is played as an offensive partner to strikers that he hardly gets any defensive duty. Other options Arsenal has includes Rosicky, Nasri, Walcott and Fabregas non of them will be played as a defensive player. So who can play that role? Imagine what will happen when Song gets injured or goes for African Nations cup? At sametime if Denilson gets injured where is Arsenal midfield? Who will hold the lines? We need to definetely spend on a defensive midfielder or help on of our defenders to step up and get converted to a defensive midfielder. The stature and physique helps Senderos to be one if at all Arsene permits.

Read more on Offensive Problems in our next blog.